Viewpoints

2020-07-02

Differences Between Corporation and LLC

Differences Between Corporation and LLC   Corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) are the most prevalent business forms when foreign investors considering investment in U.S. Both corporations and LLCs have a statutory right to exist perpetually. The shareholders of a corporation and the members of an LLC are not personally liable for the debts, obligations and liabilities of the entity.   However, corporations and LLCs have specific characteristics that must be considered carefully because they may be an advantage to certain investors but not to others.   Management   Corporations have mandatory centralized management. Control of the business and affairs of the corporation is vested in the corporation’s board of directors, and the shareholders are generally not involved in the day-to-day management of the affairs of the corporation. However, shareholders’ approval is required for certain significant transactions such as mergers.   On the other hand, an LLC has a flexible […]
2020-07-02

Required Business Insurances in New York State

Required Business Insurances in New York State   Insurance is an essential tool of risk management and helps employers reduce the financial burdens of possible losses. The following will introduce three basic insurances in New York State for businesses.   Business Liability Insurance   Business liability insurance is not mandatory in New York State, but it can protect your business from financial losses resulting from various claims, including bodily injury, property damage, personal injury, advertising injury and others caused by your business operation. And landlords may require you to maintain a certain level of liability coverage as a condition of your lease.   The premiums are typically based on the level of the coverage, the nature of the business, the number of employees, the location of operation, etc.   Workers’ Compensation and Disability Insurance   In New York State, employers are required to obtain and keep in effect workers’ compensation […]
2020-07-02

Taxation for LLC

Taxation for LLC   A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a business structure allowed by state statute, but IRS does not recognize LLC on tax purpose. The IRS treats an LLC as either a partnership, or a corporation depending on the number of members and elections made by the LLC.   For income tax purpose, a single member LLC is treated as a sole proprietor by default. In this case, the LLC does not need to pay income taxes or file a tax return with the IRS. The LLC’s net income, income, and expenses items are reported on the member’s personal tax return (assume the member is individual).   A domestic LLC with at least two members is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes by default. As a pass-through entity, an LLC needs to file tax return for the business, but does not pay entity-level taxes on its income; […]
2020-07-01

FATCA Reporting for U.S. Taxpayers

FATCA Reporting for U.S. Taxpayers The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is an important development in U.S. efforts to combat tax evasion by U.S. persons holding accounts and other financial assets offshore. Under FATCA, certain U.S. taxpayers, holding specific financial assets outside the United States and meeting the reporting threshold, must report those assets to the IRS on Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets.   Definition of Certain U.S. Taxpayers   You are a U.S. taxpayers regulated by FATCA if you are one of the following:   Specified individuals include U.S citizens, resident aliens, and certain non-resident aliens. Specified domestic entities include certain domestic corporations, partnerships, and trusts.   Specific Foreign Financial Assets    Specified foreign financial assets include foreign financial accounts and foreign non-account assets held for investment (as opposed to held for use in a trade or business), such as foreign stock and securities, foreign […]
2020-07-01

Guide to Starting A Private Educational Institution Business in Singapore

Guide to Starting A Private Educational Institution Business in Singapore As a country whose natural resource is only its people, Singapore has a world-class and widely appreciated education system. The public schools are increasingly becoming popular among immigrants, the Ministry of Education conducts an annual admissions exercise during September/October for new international students who wish to join the public schools. International students need to apply for a  Student’s Pass in order for them to study in Singapore.   Besides public schools, there are lots of private or foreign-system schools set up their campus in Singapore, they offer a curriculum similar to the kid’s home country, which is also welcomed by immigrants. For example, Singapore’s top local schools ACS International, Hwa Chong International and SJI International, established their own international schools by offering secondary and post-secondary education.   Private School in Singapore   Singapore has established Private Education Act which required […]
2020-06-23

Tax Guide to Taiwan Share Transfer

Tax Guide to Taiwan Share Transfer   Unless specified, all companies in this Guide refer to those that established with accordance to Taiwan’s Company Act. Including both limited companies and companies limited by shares.   According to Taiwan’s Company Act, Securities Exchange Act, Security Exchange Tax Regulation, Business Tax Law and Income Tax Act, different taxes are levied on the transfer of shares due to the difference in the identification of the owners and the objectives of the transaction. This Guide, therefore, provides a brief explanation of tax liability incurred during the transfer of shares.   Since 1st January 2016, income tax is no longer charged on securities transactions income made by individuals. Instead, any certified stock transferred by individuals is charged with securities transactions tax at 0.3% of the gross proceeds, rather than securities transactions income tax. Meantime, stamp duty is not imposed in this activity.   In comparison, […]
2020-06-18

China Releases Strict Administration Rules on Financial Leasing Companies

China Releases Strict Administration Rules on Financial Leasing Companies   China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission  has just released the Interim Measures for Supervision and Administration of Financial Leasing Companies (hereinafter referred to as the Measures) on 9 June 2020. The Measures consist of six chapters and 55 articles. The following contents of the Measures have attracted much attention of the insiders.   Sort out the Existing Financial Leasing Companies   The financial leasing companies will be divided into three categories, i.e. normal operation category, abnormal operation category and illegal operation category. The abnormal operation category mainly refers to the financial leasing companies with abnormal operations such as lost contact and empty shell.   Lost contact refers to a financial leasing company meeting one of the following conditions: (1)   cannot be contacted; (2)   cannot be found at its registered address; (3)   although the staff of the company can be contacted, […]
2020-06-18

Hainan Free Trade Port VS Shanghai Free Trade Zone

Hainan Free Trade Port VS Shanghai Free Trade Zone At the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Hainan Special Economic Zone, the Party Central Committee has decided to support Hainan in building a pilot free trade zone across the island, and to support Hainan in gradually exploring and steadily promoting the construction of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics. On June 1, the General plan for the construction of Hainan free trade port was released, and the construction of Hainan free trade port officially kicked off. The plan shows China’s will and determination to comprehensively deepen reform and opening up in the new era. Since its release at the beginning of the month, it has attracted wide attention from all parties. So what are the highlights and signals of the plan?   The plan comprehensively expounds the construction of Hainan free trade port from the following four aspects: General […]
2020-06-15

Guide to Starting a Pet Shop in Singapore

Guide to Starting a Pet Shop in Singapore   Nowadays, as millennial and Generation Z consumers have come into adulthood, they have embraced the pet-owning and pet-loving lifestyles to a far greater extent than their elders. The pet industry has been experiencing explosive growth recently. In this case, one may grab the business opportunity by setting up his or her own pet shop in Singapore.   In order to start a pet shop in Singapore, you must register a business with Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore (“ACRA”). After that, you would need to have a pet shop licence which issued by Animal & Veterinary Service (“AVS”), a cluster of the National Parks Board before the pet shop is allowed to display, sell, distribute, or export pets.   Pet Shop Licence   You will need a licence from AVS before your pet shop is allowed to display, sell, distribute, […]
2020-06-11

Introduction to Telecommunication Licences in Singapore

Introduction to Telecommunication Licences in Singapore   Persons who want to operate telecommunications systems and provide telecommunication services are required to be licensed by Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). In general, such licensees must be a company incorporated under the Singapore Companies Act, Chapter 50. IMDA adopts a licensing approach which differentiates between Facilities-Based Operations (FBO) Licence and Services-Based Operations (SBO) Licence type of operations.  The following provides an overview.   Services-Based Operations (SBO) Licence   The Services-Based Operations (SBO) Licence allows an operator to provide services-based telecommunications services in Singapore.   For operators who intend to:   (1)    Lease telecommunication network elements (such as transmission capacity and switching services) from any IMDA-licensed Facilities-Based Operator (FBO) to provide their own telecommunication services.   (2)    Resell telecommunication services of FBOs to third parties; or   (3)    Deploy telecommunication network, systems and facilities within their own property boundaries, but wish to offer […]
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